New Delhi: The government on Monday ruled out
induction of women into combat duties in the defence forces as
of now but said the streams for women officers are being
expanded continuously.
"At present, there is no proposal to induct women into
combat duties in the defence forces including that of fighter
pilots in Indian Air Force," Defence Minister A K Antony said
in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
He, however, said that in course of time, they (women)
will be able to join combat duties. "I agree that they are
brave women... and gradually they be able to join combat areas
also."
Speaker Meira Kumar also supported Antony saying they
should come soon.
The minister was replying to a supplementary by BJP leader
Sushma Swaraj who had asked whether the government would raise
special women battalions with women as officers.
"A study carried out by Headquarters Integrated Defence
Staff in 2006 on all aspects of employment of women officers
in the armed forces recommended exclusion of women officers
from close combat roles," Antony said.
"...But this is not final. We are committed. We are
sincere and I am sure in course of time they will be able to
join combat duties. Gradually we are moving towards that," he
said.
In the last three years only 398 women officers were
recruited in 2007, 399 in 2008 and 432 (half year) in 2009,
the minister said.
Manish Tiwari (Cong) raised concern over low percentage
of women employees in the armed forces and asked whether this
was due to ineligibility of women.
To this, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said,
"Most of the women are meeting the benchmarks. It is only
because streams are limited and we are making efforts to
expand them from time to time."
He said there was no discrimination against women in the
induction process. This government has started taking women in
the permanent commission through Short Service Commission
(SSC) and the streams are further expanding.
Replying to another supplementary, Raju said there was no
sanctioned strength of women officers but they are selected as
per eligibility.
PTI
